On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 95: Lay a Hand on the Malevolent God, and You’re Dead Meat

Black blades rained down from all directions like a torrential downpour! It was a scene out of a martial arts novel! I couldn’t dodge in time!

“Y-you!” Ko Sa-Deuk glared at me, his gaze dripping with venom, and his voice faltered slightly.

Meanwhile, black blades resembling a beast's claws jutted out from my body. I looked just like a hedgehog. Nevertheless, I didn’t let any of them prick me.

Roooooar!

Darkness emanated from my body like a spring haze, deflecting the blades like armor. Malevolent god title, Brutal Killer. When my life was in critical danger, this title would trigger automatically, just like an in-game passive skill.

“Kekeke.” Sinister laughter erupted from my mouth. Like its name, frenzy and killing intent exploded within me.

How dare this decrepit grim reaper ambush me!

[Silently Crawling Nightmare’s heart flutters at the sight of you.]

Ignoring the stalker, I waved my palm at Ko Sa-Deuk.

Wave!

I didn’t even use any skills. It was just a simple, meaningless gesture, as if I was swatting a fly. Yet, to Ko Sa-Deuk, it was as if a typhoon had blown over.

Craaaaash!

“Uuarghhh!”

The strong gust of wind blew Ko Sa-Deuk and his bed through the walls.

“Eeeek! Grandfather! Y-you!”

Amid the chaos, the familiar woman accompanying him was also blown away. Naturally, she woke up and screamed at me.

Suddenly, a dagger sheathed in murderous intent lunged at me like a snake.

“Hmph.”

I couldn’t even be bothered to dodge an attack this slow. Two fingers were enough.

“Huh?!”

As I caught her dagger with my index and middle fingers, her mysterious, multicolored eyes widened in awe. I sneered at her.

Press—

The blade, unable to withstand my strength, began cracking.

Claaaang!

The shattered fragments of the blade fell to the floor.

“N-no way...! That’s a Grade A weapon! How did he...?!”

Do I even need to answer?

I responded by grabbing her by the neck. Her face turned pale as I tightened my grip, and a tremendous amount of power surged from her eyes. What was she trying to do?

As long as they were human, not even an S-rank Hunter could resist her seductive eyes. But I was a Malevolent God and a Brutal Killer, Yu Il-Shin. Try as she might, her eyes failed to subdue me. An indescribable feeling of terror flashed across her eyes, and she went limp.

Did she faint? How weak. Just as I was pondering what I should do with her, I spotted Ko Sa-Deuk.

“You thieeeeef! Get your hands off my granddaughter!” as he screamed, the veins on his forehead threatened to pop.

We were twenty floors above ground, yet Ko Sa-Deuk floated in the sky, defying gravity. Suffice to say, my interest was piqued.

“Ho.” I let go of the woman in hand and turned toward Ko Sa-Deuk.

Compared to the motionless woman, that old man seemed infinitely more fun. Moreover, he wasn’t alone. At his feet was a gigantic skeletal creature, perhaps about ten meters tall.

Ding!

My eyes appraised it.

-----

[Bone Wyvern]

Necromancer Ko Sa-Deuk’s demonic familiar.

Special note: A dragon’s descendant.

-----

It looked just like the pterodactyls displayed in museums. Sure, it was fascinating to see it fly with wings made of bones—but that was it.

Compared to the skeletal dragon that Il-Ho had defeated, it looked like a toy sparrow.

Sss—

I raised my middle finger, directing it at Ko Sa-Deuk.

“You insolent brat!”

Thinking that I was cursing him, his face turned bright red.

But you haven’t seen anything yet.

“Convicting Middle Finger of God.”

Flicker!

On my middle finger, a flame of inferno that laid waste on everything in its path flickered, growing uncontrollably.

“W-what...?” Ko Sa-Deuk was speechless.

I smirked at him, flicking the black flames on my fingertip.

Crackle!

The five-meter-tall flame soared toward Ko Sa-Deuk.

“Huh?! Wyvern! Take flight!”

-Kieeeek!

The Bone Wyvern shrieked, leaping into the air in panic. The black flames narrowly missed its tail.

Crackle!

However, that alone was enough to reduce it to ashes. I stood by the crumbled wall and glanced into the void.

Swoosh!

-Kieeeek!

Letting out a scream, the Bone Wyvern soared toward the two moons hanging in the night sky. Such a spectacular sight it was, inspiring me to smash it to bits. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fly.

“Skill Sharing, Super Strong Body.”

So, I decided to try out Il-Ho’s newly acquired ultimate skill.

Bulge bulge!

As Il-Ho’s power was transmitted to me, my body began transforming. I could feel my muscles bursting with power. I grinned in satisfaction. He was indeed a worthy follower.

“Excellent, Il-Ho.” I recalled Il-Ho’s battle against the skeletal dragon. So, I had to compress my muscles and concentrate on them?

Crunch crunch!

Just as I thought I had amassed enough strength in my legs...

Baaam!

I stomped on the floor, releasing all the built-up power!

Swoosh!

Cutting through the air at tremendous speed, I launched at them like a rocket.

“T-this thief!” Ko Sa-Deuk pulled a talisman from his coat and tossed it into the air.

Cackle!

The talisman burned fiercely, and the energy from it was absorbed by the Bone Wyvern.

Tsss!

Suddenly, its body turned black like molten iron. It spread its jaw until it was torn, spewing a furious stream of flames. A violent stroke of red slashed across the canvas of the night sky!

The flames engulfed me, yet they couldn’t burn me. The power of the malevolent god and Il-Ho’s muscles protected me.

The Bone Wyvern charged at me.

“Hahaha!”

Cloaked in flames, I swung my fist at it.

-Kyaaaak!

The Bone Wyvern exploded into a million pieces. Bone shards scattered from the sky like snow as Ko Sa-Deuk plummeted.

“Arghhhh! Summon armor!” Ko Sa-Deuk screamed and made an imprint.

Clack clack!

The air tore apart and bones appeared from it, wrapping Ko Sa-Deuk like a turtle.

Swoosh! Baaam!

Thankfully, instead of the ground, Ko Sa-Deuk crashed on the roof of a building. The roof dented under his weight, seemingly about to collapse at any moment. His bone armor was shattered and his clothes were tattered. He looked like a dying beggar.

Thud!

Landing on the roof, I stared at him pitifully. Is that all? I had more fun playing with his Yaksha soldiers. Disappointed in the lackluster master, I pointed my index finger at Ko Sa-Deuk.

Now die, worm. This is what you get for defying a god.

Shhh!

Just then, a tiny creature swooped down and stepped between me and Ko Sa-Deuk.

Flap flap!

It was Lilith, who was reborn as my angel soldier.

Drip, drip drip!

She intertwined her hands, shedding huge droplets of tears as she pleaded with me. Her thoughts were conveyed to me through telepathy.

-O’ Almighty God, please have mercy on him.

“Ah...”

The madness and murderous intent from the malevolent god title subsided slightly.

“Huff, huff...”

Calm down. I didn’t come here to kill Ko Sa-Deuk, but to save him as per Lilith’s request.

“I’ve calmed down, so move aside. Let's hurry, before he regains consciousness.”

Anxiously, Lilith stared alternately between me and Ko Sa-Deuk. Then, she flew over to him with her tiny wings.

Hug!

She cradled his head in her tiny arms. She’d probably die with him if she could.

Ko Sa-Deuk’s eyes shook like a ship in the middle of a storm.

“Y-you are...?”

Ko Sa-Deuk's left chest was visible through his torn clothes, bearing the mark of sacrifice.

***

“Please! Lilith! Let’s make a deal! My wish is for you to live! I’ll give you anything—my soul, or even my life! Please, just open your eyes! I beg of you!”

In the past, when Lilith’s heart was ripped out by the Abysm Dragon, Ko Sa-Deuk wished for her resurrection. He was prepared to give up everything for the woman he loved. But Lilith refused to grant his wish.

Hoohoo... I won...

Ever since they first met, Lilith had been waiting for this moment. How long she’d wished for this moment! That callous man finally fell under her spell, crying and begging to have his wish fulfilled! He was even shedding tears of blood!

callous man to fall under her spell, crying and begging to have his wish fulfilled!

Aah, don’t cry, Boy...

And yet, seeing his anguished face only made her heart ache. Strange, even though her chest was holed out.

As death drew nearer, Lilith recalled the times they’d spent together. The sweet and spicy rice cakes she’d shared with him. The sweet and passionate nights they’d spent together. The first time they held their daughter together—that small and fragile warmth...

...She had a happy life. Despite being born as a tool, she was loved dearly. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

So, I’m not going to grant your wish, Boy.

“No! No! Lilith!”

After hearing Ko Sa-Deuk’s last, pitiful cry, Lilith embraced death.

-Daughter, how could you?! How could you betray me?!

Just then, her god and mother, Seductive Nights, cried out in anger.

-You cannot die! I won’t allow it! In the name of Seductive Nights, I foresee your resurrection! That day will definitely arrive and your beloved’s wish shall come true! Then, as per the contract, his soul will be mine!

No, no! Mother! Please stop! Just punish me instead...!

-Silence, you traitor! Just you see, I’ll brand him with the sacrificial stigma! On the day his wish comes true, I’ll inflict all the pain and despair in this world upon him and kill him!

Tzzz!

The curse of Seductive Nights manifested into a powerful trap, branding the mark of sacrifice on his chest.

“Arghhh!”

Lilith drew her last breath as she heard Ko Sa-Deuk’s agonizing scream.

***

On this very day, though imperfectly, Lilith was resurrected as an angelic soldier, fulfilling the cursed prophecy of the malevolent god.

Tzzz!

The mark on Ko Sa-Deuk’s chest, resembling a womb, exuded a sinister aura as it grew larger by the second. Ko Sa-Deuk’s face contorted as he coughed more black blood.

“Ugh! Cough!”

Delaying it any further would put him at greater risk.

“Crushing Forefinger of God!”

I unleashed my innate power on his mark. Other than crushing the enemy, it could also switch the target on and off. In fact, that was how I broke Sung Mi-Ri’s curse before.

Tzzzz!

I could feel my divine power draining away. At the same time, Ko Sa-Deuk’s mark gradually vanished, and black smoke rose from his chest.

As she witnessed the entire scene, Lilith’s face brightened.

Is it over?

However...

-How dare a puny Low-tier God touch my sacrifice!

Lilith’s master and malevolent god, Seductive Nights, roared.

Riiiip!

The night sky was torn asunder, and an otherworldly evil began descending on Earth. As I watched the scene unfold, my brows twitched.

“Puny Low-tier God?”